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The Cisco® Digital Modem PVDM Modules are a new set of digital dial modems provided in a DSP form-factor for use in the on-board PVDM slots. They are designed to enhance dial access for the Cisco 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 Series Integrated Services Routers. The Cisco Digital Modem PVDMs provide the Cisco 2800, 2900 Series with low-density digital dial access, and they provide the Cisco 3800, 39000 Series with a higher-density digital dial platform.

The new Cisco Digital Modem Modules are designed in the PVDM form factor for use in the onboard PVDM slots of the Cisco 2800, 2900, 3800 and 3900 Series integrated services routers. This design reduces the number of network modules required to support a digital modem solution. It allows digital modem support in the Cisco 2800, 2900 Series and opens a network module slot on the Cisco 3800 Series that can be used for application services modules or for services not available in other form factors. To provide maximum flexibility to meet different branch size requirements, the Cisco Digital Modem PVDM Modules are available in a variety of densities, listed in Table 1. Figure 1 shows the digital modem modules.

Note: These digital modem modules must operate in conjunction with a T1/E1 Primary Rate Interface (PRI), Basic Rate Interface (BRI), or T1/E1 CAS. PVDM2-xDM are not supported in c3900E.

The Cisco Digital Modem PVDM Modules in combination with the Cisco 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 Series routers expand the Cisco dial product portfolio and offer a broad range of dial solutions for various customer segments, including small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), enterprise customers, and service providers.

Key Features

The Cisco Digital Modem PVDM Modules offer the following main features:

The Cisco 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 Series routers installed with the Cisco Digital Modem PVDMs offer dial access solutions with outstanding flexibility, scalability, manageability, and performance. The Cisco Digital Modem PVDMs are designed to be used in conjunction with the following interface modules:

• NM-1CE1T1-PRI (1-Port Channelized E1/T1/ISDN-PRI Network Module)

• NM-2CE1T1-PRI (2-Port Channelized E1/T1/ISDN-PRI Network Module)

• HWIC-1CE1T1-PRI (1-Port Channelized E1/T1/ISDN-PRI HWIC)

• HWIC-2CE1T1-PRI (2-Port Channelized E1/T1/ISDN-PRI HWIC)

• VIC2-2BRI-NT/TE (2-port Voice Interface Card-BRI (NT and TE))

The Cisco Digital Modem PVDM Modules are available with 12, 24, and 36 modems per module, which can be installed in any PVDM slot, and they can also be upgraded at the customer premises as easily as upgrading computer memory. This design approach gives customers maximum flexibility to expand their dial-in solutions as the number of remote users increases and business needs change.

Support for 56K modem technology allows users to achieve maximum data transfer rates while still having access to V.34 technologies, providing fast downloads of Web pages and files. The modems are software upgradeable and can support future standards as they become available.

Digital Modem Applications

Historically, branch-office connectivity has been synonymous with connecting the local LAN to a regional or central site. With the rapid growth in mobile computing and telecommuting, increasing numbers of branch offices need to provide user-to-LAN access with remote-access capabilities.

For basic telephone users, including mobile workers and people working from hotel rooms, both 33.6K and 56K modem calls can be terminated through a PRI connection (using an NM-1CE1T1-PRI, NM-2CE1T1-PRI, HWIC-1CE1T1-PRI or HWIC-2CE1T1-PRI module), or T1/E1 CAS connection (using an NM-1CE1T1-PRI, NM-2CE1T1-PRI module) or a BRI connection (using a VIC2-2BRI-NT/TE module) to a Cisco Digital Modem Module. For teleworkers with access to PRI, the same phone number can be used to connect to the same Cisco 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 Series routers, achieving throughput of 64 kbps uncompressed or, with Multilink Point-to-Point Protocol (MLPPP), 128 kbps.

Single Solution for Modem and ISDN Callers

The Cisco 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 Series routers with Cisco Digital Modem PVDM Modules installed can accept incoming ISDN or voice calls and automatically switch them to the appropriate internal circuitry. The PRI switching is based on Q.931 messaging in the ISDN D channel. This out-of-band signaling channel provides a means for the telephone network to label each call according to its type. Specifically, when an incoming call is labeled "voice" by the telephone network, the Cisco router directs it to one of the router's modems. When a call is labeled "ISDN data," it is directed to one of the router's High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC) controllers. This approach provides the benefit of one phone number for both modem and ISDN users. T1 CAS and E1 R2 interfaces (only available when using an NM-1CE1T1-PRI or an NM-2CE1T1-PRI module) also support this switching ability.

Modem Protocol Support

The Cisco Digital Modem PVDMs support a wide array of modem data protocols, including, the V.92 and V.44 standards. See the "Hardware Specifications" section for a complete list of protocols. V.92 and V.44 provide network users and teleworkers with a high-performance dialup experience. V.92 encompasses numerous specifications, including Quick Connect, which dramatically improves the speed with which users can connect with their ISP or a branch office, and Modem on Hold, which allows users to suspend and reactivate their dialup connection to either receive or initiate a telephone call, increasing productivity for teleworkers because they do not have to waste valuable time dialing back into a central site every time they receive a phone call.

V.44 technology provides a new standard for compressing data. When compared to the V.42 compression algorithm, V.44 increases throughput by 20 to 60 percent because it uses a new compression algorithm that is optimized for typical Web content. V.44 is one standard that speeds the delivery of Web pages to the end user.

Network users can use the installed modems for dial-out and fax-out applications, using third-party applications. The modems can be assigned for dial in or dial out, or both. Dial-out support allows network users to use the modems during business hours for outgoing calls and then use the same modems after business hours for incoming calls from home or another remote location.

Increasing numbers of remote users can be easily accommodated by the support for multichassis MLPPP, allowing dial-in pools of lines to span numerous Cisco 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 Series routers. Through the use of Layer 2 Forwarding (L2F) technology and the Stack Group Bidding Protocol (SGBP) exclusive to Cisco, the Cisco 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 Series routers can expand to meet the requirements of fast-growing and frequently changing dial environments. Because the essential component is a relatively small investment, enterprises and branch offices can scale from very small to larger installations.

The Cisco IOS
® Software can help maximize dial bandwidth through features such as bandwidth on demand and protocol spoofing. These software features directly reduce line use and the costs associated with a remote-access solution.

Lower operating costs can be achieved with the centralized management capabilities of CiscoWorks management software. In addition, Cisco configuration management capabilities provide network managers with complete control over network statistics and the ability to configure and tune network operations from a central location. Finally, comprehensive debugging tools in the Cisco IOS Software substantially reduce the time and cost associated with problem isolation and correction.

Services from Cisco and our certified partners can help you transform the branch experience and accelerate business innovation and growth in the Borderless Network. We have the depth and breadth of expertise to create a clear, replicable, optimized branch footprint across technologies. Planning and design services align technology with business goals and can increase the accuracy, speed, and efficiency of deployment. Technical services help improve operational efficiency, save money, and mitigate risk. Optimization services are designed to continuously improve performance and help your team succeed with new technologies. For more information, visit
http://www.cisco.com/go/services.